"Of course I'm willing!"
Faced with her father's question, Lucy answered with unwavering certainty.
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her voice—her cheeks even flushed with excitement at the thought.
Becoming Marco's apprentice and joining Fairy Tail—these were things she had never dared to dream of!
"..."
Hearing Lucy's response, Jude fell silent once more.
Conflict and struggle still churned within him.
The death of his wife remained like a thorn lodged deep in his heart—one that could never be pulled out.
Because of it, he still couldn't bring himself to make a firm decision.
Though he had come to realize that letting Lucy join Fairy Tail, letting her stand behind giants like Marco and Makarov, might actually be the safest path for her...
But what if Lucy turned out to be just as exceptional as her mother—or even more so?
What if, after becoming Marco's disciple, she grew even stronger?
What if she became capable of standing on her own?
It might sound absurd for a parent to wish their child not to excel, but given Jude's experiences, it wasn't strange at all.
This was simply how his love for his daughter manifested.
Unfortunately, Lucy clearly didn't quite understand this kind of love.
Seeing her father fall silent again, Lucy grew impatient.
He had suddenly asked her a question, only to leave her hanging—what was the point of that?!
What was his final decision?!
However, at this point in time, Lucy wasn't yet as rebellious as she would later become.
Her relationship with Jude hadn't deteriorated to the point of outright conflict.
Though she occasionally sneaked out against his wishes, she did so mostly to find him—deep down, she still relied on him greatly.
So despite her growing frustration, she kept it mostly to herself, simmering internally.
"I'll think about it a little more," Jude finally said.
Those words only made Lucy more anxious.
'Think about what?!'
But soon, both their turbulent emotions settled as a soothing melody began to play.
The music, rich and resonant, drew everyone's attention.
It carried an almost magical quality, calming all who heard it.
Jude could clearly feel his agitation and worries dissipate.
His thoughts and the dilemma that had plagued him moments ago now seemed clear.
In an instant, he reached his decision—such was the power of Marco's music.
"His skill has already surpassed Master Valtava's."
Now at peace, Jude listened intently to the performance and couldn't help but marvel.
The ability to soothe emotions embedded in Marco's music was far more potent than Master Valtava's.
As someone who had attended many of Valtava's concerts, Jude was confident in his judgment.
He didn't know whether this effect stemmed from Marco's sheer skill or simply the raw power of his magic, but the result was undeniable—an experience that left no one disappointed, one that people would eagerly seek out.
In Marco's melodious music, the audience could relax their emotions, set aside those complicated distractions, and make the right decisions by following their hearts.
Just this alone made countless people eager to invite Marco for a performance, and countless others scramble for tickets to his concerts.
The reason why Master Valtava remained popular for so many years was that his music also had this effect—though far less potent than Marco's.
To this day, Marco hasn't performed publicly many times.
Despite his considerable fame, few have had the privilege of hearing his music live.
This also meant his concerts weren't overwhelmingly crowded yet, mostly attended by his existing fans, unlike Master Valtava's performances, which attracted all sorts of people.
But as word spread that Marco's music had a more profound calming effect than Master Valtava's, his concert tickets would soon be in frenzied demand.
Listening nearby, Lucy felt her emotions stabilize.
She believed her father would make the right judgment, but if he didn't allow it...
Lucy had already made up her mind!
Lucy still held some hope for her father, but signs of rebellion had long since emerged.
It was rare for a child to run away from home and travel so far alone to find him, as she had done.
.....
The concert proceeded smoothly.
Though Marco rarely performed publicly, his skill was undeniable.
Even playing randomly with his eyes closed, his music could deeply affect people.
Thus, Marco never needed rehearsals.
He could simply pick up the Lyra Cloth's instrument and take the stage, instantly captivating the entire audience—relying solely on his technique and magic.
Marco's lack of nervousness and his ability to command the stage effortlessly also boosted Mira's confidence for her first public performance.
Initially quite nervous, Mira shed all useless emotions the moment Marco's accompaniment began, immersing herself completely in the singing.
She performed even better than during her rehearsals.
Having Marco accompany her was an entirely different experience.
With him, every performance became transcendent, drawing people in completely.
After Mira finished singing Masayume Chasing, the event officially concluded.
The song, representing Fairy Tail was the perfect finale, its story-filled melody leaving everyone fascinated.
"How did it feel?" Marco asked Mira backstage with a smile after packing up.
"Amazing! It was an experience like no other," Mira replied, her cheeks flushed, still riding the post-performance high.
She had been utterly immersed, as if in a state of "flow," focused solely on delivering her best.
"If you'd like, we can do this more often in the future," Marco said with a grin.
He mused to himself that those moved by Mira's singing probably never imagined this beautiful girl was actually a "tomboy" offstage.
That contrast was undeniably charming.
However, after spending so much time together, Marco had come to realize that beneath Mira's "tomboy" exterior lay a gentle and caring nature.
She wasn't the violent maniac that Natsu and Gray perceived her to be.
"If you accompany me every time, I wouldn't mind singing. But if you don't play, then forget it."
Hearing Marco's words, Mira smiled brightly as she gave her reply.
She only wanted to sing when Marco was there to accompany her.
-----------------------------
Read 45 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator